Being a huge Baz Luhrmann and Leonardo DiCaprio fan I am, I was definitely excited to go see the latest film adaptation of The Great Gatsby in theatres. I just finished reading the novel a couples of days before I saw the film, too, so I was beyond pumped. And I can fully believe that the movie was worth the hype.

I LOVED IT. It was incredibly accurate to the novel, the acting was superb, and the music was amazing (I know that many people complained about the blending of modern music into a film set in the 1920’s, but, hello! This is from the director who gave us Romeo+Juliet, and last time I checked, Romeo didn’t carry a pistol or groove to Radiohead in the Elizabethan era).

The fact that the classic story was able to be portrayed as something that could happen just as easily today shows the true success of the filmmaking team. The costumes, music, and beautifully styled sets contribute perfectly to the glitz-and-glam atmosphere of Fitzgerald’s famous world of luxury. I raise my champagne glass to you, Luhrmann!

If you haven’t seen Gatsby yet, please do! It won’t be in theatres for much longer (some cities have already stopped playing it). Independent theatres are likely to pick it up for short runs once it finishes in the major theatres, though, so if you haven’t found the time yet, there is no need to panic.

If you have seen Gatsby, what did you think of it? Were you amazed and delighted like I was? Or did you find the fashionable attempt at a revamp fell flat? Let me know in the comments!

Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking – everyone and their dog has read Gatsby before, written essays on it in high school, had it’s overwhelming “greatness” held over their heads for, like, ever. But it’s all for good reason, because this book IS great.

I had never read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most loved work before – I’m Canadian, and our high school system for the past several years focuses on Canadian works in their English classes alongside American and British ones, so Gatsby was never a book that was assigned to me. I had been wanting to read it for several years, and am so glad I finally got around to it. It’s a quick and overwhelmingly delightful read, and I absolutely loved it. Of course, Gatsby has been everywhere in recent months due to the release of Baz Luhrmann’s latest film (I’ll be dicussing this adaptation later on this week). However, to those of you who have never taken the time to actually sit down and read the book: do!

The book’s iconic yet destructive characters really do stand the test of time, and the events that they each play a part in setting in motion are truly captivating.

The classic is definitely a must-read, and I know that I’ll remember The Great Gatsby as one of my favourite simple-yet-poignant novels of all time.

Despite not holding a major press conference this year, Nintendo still wowed in Tuesday’s Nintendo Direct and the various Developer Directs and sneak peek gameplay and trailer videos since then.

For the Wii U, Nintendo opted to play it safe and announced a large lineup of first-party games, focusing on sure hits such as Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, and Super Smash Bros (a version of which is also being released for the 3DS). All of these games definitely look to be fun, and while not entirely thrilling or surprising me, I’ll be sure to pick a few of them up and try them out.

3DS fans were sure to appreciate the new Pokemon X and Y footage and information, as well, including the reveal of the new “Fairy” type. Being a huge Zelda fan, I was definitely excited to see more footage from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD re-release for the Wii U as well.

Some more Nintendo-released games that Nintendo gamers may be excited about include Bayonetta 2 and Monolith Soft’s latest and as of yet untitled game, announced in the trailer only as “X.”

A wider selection of third party titles will also be arriving on the system soon, including Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, launching this November.

Overall, I feel excited about Nintendo’s announced lineup and definitely have many new games to add to my must-have list! I must admit that, despite the huge Nintendo fan I am, I was left feeling somewhat underwhelmed by the direct. I expected a little more innovation from the mega-house developer. After all, what better time than E3 to opt for “surprise and delight” tactics?

Nintendo’s E3 booth and floor showing looked like a lot of fun, too – I loved the playful, tech-looking layout! I wasn’t able to make it out to any of the Best Buy demo locations, but the games sampled seem to have been fun as well.

How did you feel after Nintendo’s showing at E3 this year? Excited? Disappointed? What games are you most looking forward to next?

Without a doubt, my favourite band of all time has got to be the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their blend of bass-driven funk-rock matches Kiedis’ vocals in such a smooth, deep way. And the music video for Californication, one of the band’s most famous songs, took its inspiration from video games – perfect!

The video, released in 1999, features a video game that Chili Pepper fans can only dream of playing. Match that with deep thoughts about the celebrity and state of mind in Hollywood and some funky, moody music… Ahhh. Too good.

I had the honour of seeing the Chili Peppers in Toronto in April 2012 – they’re just as amazing live! Definitely was a dream come true!

Many of us grew up reading Archie comics, and now, for the first time ever, the classic comic series is officially getting its first ever feature film.

The film is slated to be produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, directed by Jason Moore (of Pitch Perfect fame) and written by Glee and Marvel comics writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Aguirre-Sacasa has stated that he aims to make the film a quintessential teen summer movie.

The comic series is over 70 years old as has captivated people for decades. My aunts and uncles have been reading the comics for decades, and my sister and I have grown up reading them at my cottage in the summer. Because of this close connection and nostalgic love for the series, I am excited to hear about this new development! I kid you not, I LITERALLY was thinking about how someone should make an Archie feature-film Wednesday night, and boom, Thursday it was announced!

My only fear is that the characters will be changed during the writing process to better create some teen angst and drama. Of course, some drama is necessary to create a movie, but I sincerely hope they don’t give Aguirre-Sacasa complete control of the characterization – I’m hoping the Archie team will ensure that things will remain truthful and loyal to the actual comics.

No news yet about potential release dates or casting, but based on the summery goals of the team, summer 2015 could be a plausible option.

How about you guys? Does an Archie movie excite your inner child? Let me know!

The Brothers Rapture is a short film inspired by the hit video game Bioshock. Set in the haunting and mysterious underwater city of Rapture, the film focuses on the lives of two brothers who learn about the dangers and responsibilities of creating art in the sunken city without the physical and moral limitations of the world above.

The film was made a by a group of young filmmakers and students from Vancouver, BC, and I believe that it deserves more views and support! It truly is incredibly well done and captures the creepy environment of Rapture in an accurate and impressive way.

Fans of the Bioshock series of games are sure to love this short film – check it out and let me know what you think!